Asia’s energy-starved nations go dark as Hormuz tensions drag on

In Cambodia's Kampong Speu province, Vuth Dara has laid off two workers, pulled his children from English classes and switched to charcoal for cooking as fuel costs skyrocketed. Gasoline prices in the Southeast Asian nation surged by over 40% following U.S. strikes on Iran in February, which disrupted energy supplies through the Strait of Hormuz.

While prices have slightly decreased since a brief ceasefire, the increased transport and operating expenses are burdening households and small businesses, threatening long-term economic stability. Dara, like many Cambodians, fears that any renewed hostilities could lead to another price surge that his family cannot bear.